Proverbs 22
22
1Being respected is more important than having great riches.
To be well thought of is better than owning silver or gold.
2The rich and the poor are alike
in that the Lord made them all.
3When a wise person sees danger ahead, he avoids it.
But a foolish person keeps going and gets into trouble.
4Respecting the Lord and not being proud
will bring you wealth, honor and life.
5The lives of evil people are like paths covered with thorns and traps.
People who protect themselves don’t have such problems.
6Train a child how to live the right way.
Then even when he is old, he will still live that way.
7The rich rule over the poor.
And borrowers become servants to those who lend.
8A person who does evil things will receive trouble in return.
Then he won’t be cruel to others any longer.
9A generous person will be blessed
because he shares his food with the poor.
10Get rid of the person who makes fun of wisdom.
Then fighting, quarrels and insults will stop.
11A person who loves innocent thoughts and kind words
will have even the king as a friend.
12The Lord protects knowledge from being lost.
But he destroys false words.
13The lazy person says, “There’s a lion outside!
I might get killed out in the street!”
14The words of an unfaithful wife are like a deep trap.
Those who make the Lord angry will get caught by them.
15Every child is full of foolishness.
But punishment can get rid of it.
16The one who gets rich by being cruel to the poor will become poor.
And so will the one who gives presents to the wealthy.
Other Wise Sayings
17Pay attention and listen to what wise people say.
Remember what I am teaching you.
18It will be good to keep these things in mind.
Be prepared to repeat them.
19I am teaching them to you now
so that you will put your trust in the Lord.
20I have written down 30 sayings for you.
They give knowledge and good advice.
21I am teaching you true and reliable words.
Then you can give true answers to anyone who asks.
22Do not abuse poor people because they are poor.
And do not take away the rights of the needy in court.
23The Lord will defend them in court.
And he will take the life of those who take away their rights.
24Don’t make friends with someone who easily gets angry.
Don’t spend time with someone who has a bad temper.
25If you do, you may learn to be like him.
Then you will be in real danger.
26Don’t promise to pay what someone else owes.
And don’t give guarantees that you will pay what he owes.
27If you cannot pay what he owes,
your own bed will be taken and sold.
28Don’t move an old stone that shows where a person’s land is.
These stones were set up by your ancestors.
29Do you see a man skilled in his work?
That man will work for kings.
He won’t have to work for ordinary people.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Proverbs 22
22
1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
And loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor meet together:
Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;
But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah
Is riches, and honor, and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse:
He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go,
And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7The rich ruleth over the poor;
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity;
And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out;
Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
11He that loveth pureness of heart,
For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge;
But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
13The sluggard saith, There is a lion without;
I shall be slain in the streets.
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit;
He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain,
And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.
17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,
And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee,
If they be established together upon thy lips.
19That thy trust may be in Jehovah,
I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20Have not I written unto thee excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,
That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor;
Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23For Jehovah will plead their cause,
And despoil of life those that despoil them.
24Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger;
And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
25Lest thou learn his ways,
And get a snare to thy soul.
26Be thou not one of them that strike hands,
Or of them that are sureties for debts.
27If thou hast not wherewith to pay,
Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28Remove not the ancient landmark,
Which thy fathers have set.
29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings;
He shall not stand before mean men.
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